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Dutton stumps for bill protecting businesses from frivolous Americans with Disabilities Act lawsuits
Kristina Hernandez, Redlands Daily Factsredlandsdailyfacts.com
03/02/2012 01:10:02 PM PST
http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_20088932
REDLANDS -- Sen. Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, held a press conference Friday morning outside of Redlands Lock and Key to discuss a new bill that will stop attorneys from using the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, to extract money from California businesses.
SB 1186 was introduced to the California State Senate in February and asks that businesses be allowed 90 days to fix minor infractions of the ADA before a lawsuit can be filed.
The bill will protect the rights of the disabled, while ensuring that small businesses will be protected from frivolous lawsuit abuse.
Joining Dutton at the conference were Redlands business owners Juan Basols, owner of Redlands Lock and Key, Paul Barich, owner of Barich Associates and president of the Redlands Chamber of Commerce, and Maryann Marino, regional director for California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse.
Both Basols and Barich have been on the receiving end of an ADA lawsuit, they said.
Upon learning that he was being sued for not complying to ADA standards on a parking structure he does not own, Barich said he was hit with some discouraging news.
The man suing him said it "would all go away" if Barich paid the man $4,000.
Instead of doing so, Barich contacted his landlord, who took care of the problem within a day.
"I have about 2,000 clients that are on Medicare and most of those are disabled," Barich added. "So the last thing I would ever do is try
to restrict a disabled person to come from my establishment.
"Once we are aware of something that is wrong, give us time to fix it."
Dutton said he had been contacted by many businesses in the Redlands area about these lawsuits and decided to lend a hand.
He said the lawsuits are nothing more than extortion of the business community, adding that he is going to try to do what he can do to help.
Dutton said he is also working with businesses in his district, including San Bernardino and has the support of fellow senator Diane Feinstein.
"Most of the cities in my district are small cities (who) have (a) good Chamber of Commerce, and I don't want to see them hurt," he said.
Dutton added that he is awaiting word on when the judicial committee will be hearing the bill.
Marino said that these lawsuits are preventing local businesses from creating jobs, adding that it is costly for business owners to find lawyers and take their case to court.
"We need more jobs, not more lawsuits," she said. "And that's why we're here. We are supporting -- whole-heartedly -- Sen. Dutton and his ADA fix bill."
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Reach Kristina via email, or call her at 909-793-3221, or find her on Twitter @TheFactsKris.
Kristina Hernandez, Redlands Daily Factsredlandsdailyfacts.com
03/02/2012 01:10:02 PM PST
http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_20088932
REDLANDS -- Sen. Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, held a press conference Friday morning outside of Redlands Lock and Key to discuss a new bill that will stop attorneys from using the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, to extract money from California businesses.
SB 1186 was introduced to the California State Senate in February and asks that businesses be allowed 90 days to fix minor infractions of the ADA before a lawsuit can be filed.
The bill will protect the rights of the disabled, while ensuring that small businesses will be protected from frivolous lawsuit abuse.
Joining Dutton at the conference were Redlands business owners Juan Basols, owner of Redlands Lock and Key, Paul Barich, owner of Barich Associates and president of the Redlands Chamber of Commerce, and Maryann Marino, regional director for California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse.
Both Basols and Barich have been on the receiving end of an ADA lawsuit, they said.
Upon learning that he was being sued for not complying to ADA standards on a parking structure he does not own, Barich said he was hit with some discouraging news.
The man suing him said it "would all go away" if Barich paid the man $4,000.
Instead of doing so, Barich contacted his landlord, who took care of the problem within a day.
"I have about 2,000 clients that are on Medicare and most of those are disabled," Barich added. "So the last thing I would ever do is try
to restrict a disabled person to come from my establishment.
"Once we are aware of something that is wrong, give us time to fix it."
Dutton said he had been contacted by many businesses in the Redlands area about these lawsuits and decided to lend a hand.
He said the lawsuits are nothing more than extortion of the business community, adding that he is going to try to do what he can do to help.
Dutton said he is also working with businesses in his district, including San Bernardino and has the support of fellow senator Diane Feinstein.
"Most of the cities in my district are small cities (who) have (a) good Chamber of Commerce, and I don't want to see them hurt," he said.
Dutton added that he is awaiting word on when the judicial committee will be hearing the bill.
Marino said that these lawsuits are preventing local businesses from creating jobs, adding that it is costly for business owners to find lawyers and take their case to court.
"We need more jobs, not more lawsuits," she said. "And that's why we're here. We are supporting -- whole-heartedly -- Sen. Dutton and his ADA fix bill."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reach Kristina via email, or call her at 909-793-3221, or find her on Twitter @TheFactsKris.